Summer meals don't have to be expensive or complicated. Try these fresh recipes using the best that summer has to offer; crab meat, lettuce, mango, mint, banana, kiwi, pineapple, lime and citrus fruits such as blood oranges, tangerines and grapefruit. Serve family and friends a summer meal that is filling and fresh.
Nutrients found in fruits, fish and low-fat dairy products help provide for a healthy body. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in many protein-rich foods, helps the brain produce serotonin. Serotonin is well-known for producing calm and happy feelings, as well as making a person feel sleepy. Try the parfait at the end of a long day and have sweet dreams!
Crab Salad on Lettuce Leaves
Salad Ingredients:
- 1 lb lump crab meat
- 4 medium Boston lettuce leaves
- 3/4 cup finely sliced celery
- 2/3 cup finely sliced red bell pepper
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 3 Tbsp thinly sliced fresh mint
- 2 avocados, sliced
Dressing ingredients:
- 3 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1-1/2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp grated lime rind
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp Thai fish sauce
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
Directions:
- Whisk together lime juice, oil, lime rind, sugar, fish sauce, salt & pepper to make dressing.
- Place celery, crab meat, red pepper, onions and mint in medium bowl; toss gently to combine. Add sliced avocado.
- Drizzle dressing over salad; toss gently to coat.
- Place one lettuce leaf on each plate, spoon a cup of salad onto each leaf. Makes 4 servings.
Citrus Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 blood orange (for beautiful color and flavor)
- 1 tangerine
- 1 grapefruit
- several fresh slices of pineapple
- 1 lime
- 2-3 Tbs honey
- 1/3 cup sliced, toasted coconut
- 1/3 cup sliced, toasted almonds
- several fresh leaves of mint
Directions:
- Stir together the juice of one lime with 2 to 3 tablespoons honey.
- Place the orange, tangerine, grapefruit and pineapple in a medium bowl.
- Bake coconut and almond slices on baking sheet for 5-8 minutes in 350° oven.
- Toss the fruits with lime and honey mixture. Add toasted coconut, almonds and mint leaves on top. Serves 4.
Banana-Kiwi-Mango Parfait
Ingredients:
- 1 mango, peeled and cubed
- 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
- 1 banana, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1-1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
- 8 fresh mint leaves, torn in half
Directions:
- In food processor, blend together mango and honey until smooth.
- Put 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese into each of the four parfait glasses. Add banana slices, a few spoonfuls of mango sauce, one mint leaf and a slice of kiwi.
- Layer with cheese, banana slices, mango sauce, kiwi and mint.
- Repeat again. Place a mint leaf on top and serve cold.
The parfait is perfect for an end-of-the-meal dessert or a late-night snack with its Tryptophan and carbohydrates making for a perfect way to slow down and get ready to sleep.
Many different varieties of fruits can be used in this simple parfait. Use whatever fruits are available or are the family favorites. This parfait never has to look or taste the same twice!
For more ideas on summer party food, you may enjoy the following:
Kids love making Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas and Cinnamon-Apple Tarts and Healthy Fruit & Veggie Breakfast Smoothies.
Try making some Seafood Appetizers, Hors D'oeuvres, Tapas and then chill out with some cool Summer Recipes With Fresh Watermelon.
Vicki F. Chavis - Growing up in Asia, Europe and North America left Vicki with a love of cuisine, history, language, fashion and travel. Today she writes on ...
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